Women miners in Turkana County have received a major boost after the county government offered them an opportunity to gain exposure by participating in the inaugural miner’s gala held in Nairobi.
The participation of women in the largely male dominated sector will go a long way to motivate them to pursue economic ventures in the sector.
The women miners took part in Africa’s inaugural edition of the Pioneer Women Extractives Gala Award in Nairobi on Monday evening.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Dr Monica Juma was the chief guest at the event.
Led by the County’s Director for Mineral Resources Stella Opakas alongside Pauline Ekai the vice-chairperson of the miners’ association, the delegation used the rare opportunity to exchange experiences and learn valuable lessons that could be used to enhance women’s participation in the extractives value chain.
The event which was organized by the Association of Women in Energy and Extractives in Kenya (AWEIKS) was aimed at identifying and awarding women’s achievements in the sector.
Opakas noted that the event comes at a time when a 2021 mapping report of minerals distribution in Turkana indicated that the County had more than 22 deposits of commercially viable minerals hence the need to encourage the involvement of women in the lucrative sector.
“We shall continue to do all within our powers to support miners and especially women miners in the county,” she said.
By Peter Gitonga
